This week President Obama played politics with the Supreme Court, of course. Alexander Hamilton would not be pleased. 

It’s important for conservatives to stand united, because so many vital issues hang in the balance – from gun control and the right to life, to Obamacare and amnesty, to religious freedom, national security and “global warming” regulations.

Harry Reid, though, is confident that the GOP will cave and do Obama’s bidding. 

As this battle plays out, the New York Post reminds us that Republicans are playing by the Democrats’ rules – but really, the Biden Rule is a good guide for the GOP in this fight.

The Biden Rule holds that, “once the political season is underway… action on a Supreme Court nomination must be put off until after the election campaign is over. That is what is fair to the nominee, and essential to the process.”

Do you agree with Joe Biden that the Senate should wait until the end of the “political season” and let the next President fill the Supreme Court vacancy? Do you think Harry Reid is right – that the GOP will inevitably cave in to the Obama Administration?  Which issue are you most concerned about if President Obama is allowed to twist the Supreme Court to the left? 

Those are the questions in our new Weekly Poll – I look forward to seeing the responses!

Also this week: The Obama Administration finally does the right thing and admits that ISIS is guilty of genocide – but the decision is probably more about Obama’s legacy than human rights.

It seems that Hillary is “confused” again – or just lying: It’s hard to know when she makes the patently outrageous claim that no Americans died in Libya on her watch. 

Finally this week, Marco Rubio crashed and burned… Trump seems poised for victory here in New York… John Kasich may well be Trump’s best political friend right now… and not everyone agrees with Mr. Trump that we’ve “had enough” debates. 

Have a great weekend!

President Obama is going to Cuba on Sunday and will attend a state dinner with the dictator, excuse me, President of Cuba, Raul Castro.  His wife and children will accompany him, but there is no mention that Mayor de Blasio and his wife will go back to where they honeymooned. 

This is where they are going — to a country still protecting some of America’s most wanted terrorists. These still-dangerous revolutionaries roam the island, disenchanted about all things American.  Four of them — Joanne Chesimard, William Guillermo Morales, Victor Manuel Gerena and Charles Hill — hail from US-based domestic terror organizations whose violent track record includes bringing about the deaths of 17 police officers, five American civilians and two members of the US military, as well as perpetrating a string of 159 bombings that have destroyed the lives and families of many more.  Read the rest of the NY Post article by Rick Fuentes here.

Let us not forget the pain that Joseph Connor lives with every day since the murder of his father by FALN members who bombed Fraunces Tavern and still roam free in Cuba.

Mayor de Blasio is closing his controversial fund-raising arm…but will it be gone forever?  I would not be surprised if it reappears in the future.

Governor Cuomo and his union compatriots have spent $1.72 million on lobbying aimed to increase the minimum wage.  The fight for fifteen is a union driven effort determined to disregard the damage it will do to non-union New Yorkers.

Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi said the governor opposes the Senate GOP budget plan that would cut virtually all state aid from communities that don’t cooperate with immigration officials.  He went on to say that “Our strength is its diversity and that’s something that stood whether we had Democratic mayors, Republican mayors or independent mayors.”  Mr. Azzopardi, (Governor Cuomo and Speaker Heastie) the difference is that the people you are referring to came here legally!!  The GOP proposal should be adopted immediately.

Governor Cuomo gets bad advice…from his sister.

Today’s breaking news is that President Obama nominated Merrick Garland for the open seat due to the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.  President Obama’s moderate choice is currently the chief judge of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit. From the news reports, Judge Garland has been on President’s short list for 6 years, saving him, for when he might need someone palatable to Republicans. (His anti-gun position should make him not so palatable.)   NPR paints a rosy picture of Judge Garland and most would agree that he may someday make a good Supreme Court Justice.  He was confirmed by a 76-23 vote when then President Bill Clinton nominated him for the Appeals Court.  Ironically, Clinton nominated him in 1995 and he was not confirmed until 1997 — after the 1996 Presidential Elections.   He had to wait in 1995 and he should have to wait again.

Our US Senate Candidate, Wendy Long, responds to Judge Garland’s nomination here.

According to the Daily Signal, the Justice Department is perfectly okay with non-citizens voting in federal elections, or apparently any elections.

Hillary is very gaffe prone lately.  Could it be the pressure of the campaign?  If so, how will Hillary withstand the real pressures of being president?  We should all plan on letting her have a very long rest.

Former Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey has another good column in today’s NY Post on American hospitals and the plagues they refuse to face. 

Seldom do the NY Post and the NY Daily News have an editorial with the same position on the same day.  Today is one of those days, Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis (A Bill Clinton appointee) did not make a mistake three years ago, he is making it now.

Wednesday’s with Walter E. Williams

Governor Cuomo should start listening to the other side of raising the minimum wage to $15.  The legislators in two local counties, St. Lawrence County and Oneida County have gone on record opposing the increase.  Governor Cuomo may be buoyed by the far left University of California -Berkeley economists saying the boost would improve some living standards, but not weighing the majority of studies that prove it hurts far more than improves, is a disservice to all that will be impacted by the final decision.  If two family members are earning the current minimum wage of $9.00 per hour and the wage is increased to $15 and one wage earner is laid off because the business cannot afford it, the family actually loses $3.00 an hour.  Is this what the Governor wants?  How does raising the minimum wage boost the living standards in this case?  New York is not the only state facing the radical left’s demand for a $15 minimum wage.

The democrat-controlled Assembly ignores what every locality has to abide by — the spending cap.  Instead of the 2% the Governor proposed – albeit through some financial maneuvering — Speaker Heastie and his colleagues proposed a 3.7% increase.  

Are educational leaders so out of touch with students that they do not realize the harm they are doing to them by bending the rules?

The Washington Examiner examines Hillary’s hubris.

Hillary was Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, yet she stated Monday night at the Illinois Town Hall meeting that the U.S. “didn’t lose a single person” in Libya during her tenure as Secretary.  Did Hillary forget what happened in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2011?  The families of Ambassador Chris Stephens, Tyrone Woods, Glen Doherty and Sean Smith remember all too well the night their lives were shattered by the terrorist attack on our embassy.  They also remember what Hillary told them when they meet, yet Hillary says they are mistaken.   Hillary may choose to forget the stigma of September 11, 2011, but we will always remember how four Americans were left to die.  

Bill Lewis’ weekly column in the Queens Times Ledger is an interview of Chairman Mike Long.  Read the column here.

Peter S. Kalikow opines on the anti-democratic plot to steal the GOP nomination from Donald Trump.

Tuesday’s with Thomas Sowell.

Yesterday’s NY Post editorial began with this, “Attention, Gov. Cuomo: It’s time to rethink your “fight for $15,” and takes a look at the damage the $15 an hour is doing in Seattle.   AEI is considered a nonpartisan public policy research institute and you can read the cited report here.

The NY Post follows up on the press release we issued last week on Assemblyman Kaminsky’s proposal to raise the salaries of the legislative members.

The men and women serving in the NYPD are concerned that the dangers they face are greater, the job is more difficult and leadership does not have their backs, so says a new survey by the police union.  On a scale of 1-10, the average rating moral is just 2.94. 

The NY Post editorial board continues to look after the future of New York with this scathing editorial on the Board of Regents.  It begins with “The Board of Regents the ultimate policy-maker for all formal education in New York, from pre-K to post-grad — is back firmly under the thumb of the teachers unions and their allies, none of whom put kids, parents or education first.”  Read the rest of the editorial here.

This week the New York Times gets an “F” in economics with an absurd defense of Andrew Cuomo’s proposed $15 minimum wage. 

There are two studies out on the minimum wage – one that says the pay hike will create jobs and help the economy, and another that shows a devastating effect.

But it’s possible that the rosier study made a big miscalculation.

Meanwhile, as it becomes more likely that both parties’ presidential fights will run long, this week was a tale of two debates…

On the Democratic side, more lies from Hillary Clinton – even as she had the nerve to call the mother of a Benghazi victim a liar. 

Guy Benson provides a video keeping count of all the lies – and surprisingly, Hillary did face some tough questions about her emails in this week’s debate.
 
On the Republican side, the GOP circus continues – though everyone was playing nice with Donald Trump at Thursday night’s debate, while Trump himself adopted a softer tone. 
 
Ben Carson is playing very nice with Trump now, giving his endorsement just before the Florida primary. 

This week’s poll questions are about the debates – did any of the 2016 debates cause you to change your mind and give your support to a different candidate? What is the biggest issue you think should have been raised more in the Republican debates? What is the one issue you think should have been given more attention in the Democrat debates? 

Give your answers today in our new Weekly Poll!

As all the campaign drama unfolds, let’s not forget what the 2016 elections are all about…

We’ve got Obamacare to deal with: the program’s disastrous co-ops haven’t repaid $12 billion in taxpayer-funded loans they received, and enrollment numbers are falling short. 

There’s a “new-and-improved” axis of evil exploiting America’s Obama-Era weakness, and an emboldened (by Obama) Iran showing its muscle. 

And we’ve got a Supreme Court vacancy that could shape the judiciary and public policy for generations. 

There’s a lot at stake. I’m sure that you, like me, are praying for America. And I hope that you have a great weekend!

Today’s NY Post editorial gives kudos to the state Senate Republican majority’s plan to cut taxes for New Yorkers over a seven-year period.  For more details on the plan, click here. Here is hoping that the Assembly majority and Governor Cuomo listen to what they have to say and seriously consider the republican proposals, as they are listening to the overtaxed residents of New York State.

The New York City Council continues to have a deaf ear when it comes to curbing spending.  They just increased its operating budget by $3 million bringing it to $64 million.  Last year’s total budget was $148 M, no telling how much it will be when they finish it this year.

The members of the City Council have far too much time on their hands if this is what they worry about.  When did it become the responsibility of the City Council to monitor what I eat when I have the opportunity to go out to eat?  Councilwoman Barron: you worry about what you eat, I’ll worry about my family and myself.

Rod Watson, writing in the Buffalo News, apparently agrees that government is overstepping its authority in many different areas.

Here is another example of our government being out of control.  Seriously, civil action against people who do not agree with the government?  Were we all transported to Cuba in our sleep?

Former Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey opines that President Obama may hand over Guantanamo Bay to Raoul when he visits Cuba. 

Do you think President Obama has learned anything from the disastrous Iran Deal? 

Hillary Clinton how do you sleep at night?  This is the most despicable statement I have ever heard.   Why would they not remember exactly what you and others told them?  You really should hang your head in shame, but you have no concept of what shame is.   

Hillary refuses to answer indictment question at debate.  We now know why Hillary did not want to debate.

This is disturbing news:  “There’s an emerging pattern that as the intelligence reports move higher in the chain-of-command, they become more rose-colored with respect to the threat from radical Islamic terror, from ISIS,”  Read the rest of the article here.

Homeland Security Today.US has equally disturbing news here.

Mr. President, please explain this. 

The Hill is reporting that FBI Director, Jim Comey, is making waves — with Apple, the Black Lives Matter movement and with the investigation of Hillary’s private email server.  Director Comey has a reputation of being independent thereby earning the respect of those who do not have a blatantly political agenda.    Today, AG Loretta Lynch indicated that the law doesn’t require the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email system, even if the FBI recommends criminal charges. Read more on AG Lynch’s testimony at today’s Congressional hearing here.  The Republican National Committee filed two lawsuits today to obtain information not provided after filing a FOIL request.   Read more here.  Hillary continues to insist that there was no classified material on her personal server and she has done nothing wrong.  

NBC/WSJ matches each candidate — except for Kasich — against Hillary  (I’m just linking to the article, not offering an opinion nor vouching for its accuracy.)

Wednesday’s with Walter E. Williams.

Perhaps it was Solar Flares or pesky Gremlins who played havoc with the internet yesterday; needless to say, for whatever reason, we missed being able to post our Daily Update for Monday and will make up for it today.

In case you were unable to listen to Chairman Long on Effective Radio Sunday morning, you can hear him here. 

Our US Senate candidate, Wendy Long was on NY 1’s influential Inside City Hall with Errol Lewis.  You can watch it here.  Have you visited Wendy Long’s website yet?  If you google it — www.wendylong.com — it will help get the search results up in Google.  Also, you can friend her Facebook page, follow her on Twitter and Instagram.  No one candidate can win on their own — we need to be there for Wendy Long and defy the pundits by electing her to the US Senate. 

Governor Cuomo wants to mandate a 12 week paid family at 2/3rds of their salary leave on businesses.  Click here to find out what Chairman Long thinks of this mandate. 

One more video for you to watch —  Brooklynites weigh in on Trump wins. 

Rich Calder writes about the perks of donating to Mayor de Blasio.

New York’s new status as a “sanctuary” city means few illegal immigrants who break the law are being handed over to federal authorities for deportation.  Staten Island Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, has joined several Republican legislators in pushing a bill in Albany to compel the city to comply with federal detention requests.  “It’s almost as if the City Council is more interested in protecting illegal immigrants than the safety of the very citizens they represent,” she told The Post. The city law is making the public less safe, a former senior Homeland Security source said.  Read the rest of the article here.

Mayor de Blasio lacks the wisdom of Solomon when he chooses to ignore the rights of privacy of non-transgendered people. 

The other side of abortion, the side the pro-abortionist lobby never want you to hear.

Jim DeMint:  Conservatives who run on conservative ideas win.

Tuesday’s with Thomas Sowell — Another Random Thoughts column, always a personal favorite of mine.

Rest in Peace, Nancy Reagan.